CALGARY — The petition effort to recall Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has officially failed.

The city clerk says the petition collected fewer than 70,000 signatures, well short of the 514,000 needed under provincial law for the recall to kick in.

The law required signatures representing 40 per cent of Calgary’s population to be collected within two months.

Council was also told a random sample of 369 signatures did not each come with a required copy of the petition recall, rendering all names invalid.

The campaign was started by local business owner Landon Johnston.

Johnston has said he launched the drive because he was unhappy with Gondek’s leadership.

 This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press